Steve's Ramblings

“100 Best Companies to Work For”

2012-02-11T19:49:00.000-06:00

Once again, REI (Recreational Equipment, Inc.) has been named one of Fortune magazine 100 Best Companies to Work For. REI moved from 9th in 2011 to 8th in 2012. They are one of just a handful of companies to have appeared on the list every year since the magazine began compiling it in 1998.

"Every day, our employees come to work and share their unwavering love of the outdoors and help others experience the wonders of nature," said Sally Jewell, REI president and CEO. "And that is what makes REI a great place to work and what has earned us this prestigious honor, year after year."

I have spent the past sixteen years working at REI in Houston and can only echo Sally’s comment. There are so many things that come to mind to remind me of what a great place it is to work: great co-workers and fantastic customers (most of the time), all of whom share a common interest; a corporate philosophy that balances life and work; respect by, and for, management; wonderful benefits (vacation, health insurance, profit sharing, etc.) even for “part-time” employees; plus gear deals that can’t be beat.

One of the recent highlights of my REI career occurred last Spring. Included in the “benefits” is a four-week paid sabbatical (in addition to vacation) after fifteen years of employment. A couple of photos from the celebration are shown below…and I spent most of the time in the mountains of Colorado.

And, there is another sabbatical coming if I can “hang around” for another four years. Why not, it is a fantastic place to “hang out”!

The Pleasures of a Learning Child

2012-01-24T21:00:00.000-06:00

One of the things that I always enjoyed was seeing Jeff and Kristin learn something when they were young children. And, over the years, I had forgotten how much pleasure there was in that. Well, Sarah has reminded me again what a thrill it is. Here is a short video of her saying her ABC’s. (Ignore the fact that she has a bit of a problem with too much toothpaste in her mouth between Q and R).

Sarah reciting the ABC’s

Happy Holiday Season from Us to You

2011-12-22T21:35:00.000-06:00

We would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a happy holiday season and a wonderful 2012!

Congratulations to Jack!

2011-12-19T14:19:00.000-06:00

Congratulations, Jack, on winning the spelling championship at St. Andrew’s Episcopal School in Amarillo! We are very proud of you. The winning words were telepathic, nocturnal, and lullaby for the win.

Jack stands alone as the champion…nothing but empty chairs behind him.

Boston Celtics (2011-12)

2011-12-18T15:42:00.000-06:00

After a long, drawn out lockout by the NBA owners, a shortened training camp, and lots of free agents moving everywhere, what can we expect from the Celtics this season?

Bob Ryan, who has covered the Celtics in the Boston Globe for an eternity, wrote an interesting article recently on this year’s team. It can be found here. Ryan indicated that the “window” is still open for the current version of the Big 3. (However, I must point out that this was written prior to the announcement that Jeff Green would miss the season because of heart surgery. Green, who was obtained in the Kendrick Perkins trade last season had been expected to play a key role for this season’s team).

There have been a few changes from last year’s team: in my opinion Brandon Bass is an upgrade from “Big Baby” Davis; Chris Wilcox will add some hustle off the bench; Keyon Dooling can fill Delonte West’s role adequately. Two keys will be: Jermaine O’Neal’s health and Marquis Daniels’ play off the bench. However, everyone is a year older and I doubt that the two rookies from Purdue, Johnson and Moore, will provide much in the way of support this year. So, who knows how well they will do; I doubt that “Banner #18” will be hung from the rafters after this year, however.

I did watch the first game of the abbreviated preseason against Toronto. It was an adequate performance…all things considered – shortened training camp, first game, new players, no Paul Pierce.

A Collection of Visits from Santa

2011-12-14T21:44:00.000-06:00

Santa (and Mrs. Claus) came to visit a few days ago to make certain everyone was doing well and prepared for his visit. He seems to visit now that Sarah is around; prior to her birth, he never came by. (What’s up with that????)

I’ve put together three pictures of his annual visit – 2009, 2010, and 2011.

2009

2010

2011

She is getting braver each year. (I always thought the sequence of photos from 2009 were priceless – December 2009 Archive)

I thought I would throw in a family photo that turned out reasonably well considering at least one of the subjects…

Happy Holidays from the Claus and the Cruser families!

300th Geocaching Find

2011-12-03T20:24:00.000-06:00

Geocaching is one of the things I enjoy doing when I have some time off (see the November 2009 archive). Jeff and I have gone on a number of “adventures” (some as far away as Colorado) the past year or so and had a lot of fun. Recently, I made my 300th find. (Jeff has over 1,000!; so, I am way behind him).

Geocaching provides a great opportunity to get outdoors, to get exercise, and to improve one’s “geekiness”.

Interesting Photo Op…

2011-12-02T20:33:00.000-06:00

Last summer while enjoying a hike along Segment 9 of the Colorado Trail in the Leadville area with family members, we came to a scenic spot for a rest/lunch break. The segment is about fourteen miles long and this hillside was probably about nine or ten miles into the hike. Much of the trail was wooded and this was really one of the the first opportunities for some distant scenic viewing.

After a fifteen-minute rest we continued on our way and finished the hike in good fashion. So, what is so interesting about this photo op?

Well, each year the Colorado Trail Foundation has an picnic to celebrate the Trail, to recognize those who assist in maintaining the trail, and to just have a good time. As a long-time “constructor”, “maintainer”, and supporter of this spectacular trail, we receive an invitation to this picnic each year. (It is held at Bear Creek Lake Park in Lakewood, Colorado. However, living over a thousand miles away makes it unattendable…) However, this year the photo on the postcard invitation grabbed my attention.

The photograph on the postcard was taken from almost exactly the same spot (note the small rock in the middle of the trail and the short pine tree just as the trail continues uphill.) There is a little less snow in the postcard picture. And, just prior to our rest stop we had “endured” about fifteen minutes of mixed hail and rain…hence “our” sky is not quite as blue as the CTF sky. (Thanks Erin, Greg, and Nick for hiking with me and for being the “models”.)

The End of a Storied Rivalry (at least, for a while?)

2011-11-25T14:42:00.000-06:00

The first college football I can ever remember watching on TV was a University of Texas – Texas A & M game on Thanksgiving in the late 50’s. I was in going to high school in Indiana at that time. Little did I know then that I would become an ardent fan of the Longhorns - a result attending graduate school in Austin a few years later. UT – A & M has always been as Thanksgiving as turkey!

Last night we watched the end (for only a while, perhaps) of this long rivalry – a fitting end for Longhorn fans, at least, at UT defeated the Aggies, 27 – 25, on a FG as time expired.

It is a shame that a rivalry that has played out for over a century has to end for reasons that one can only speculate. The Houston Chronicle’s Jerome Solomon has written an interesting blog on this topic.

So, as an avid Longhorn, all I can say is good luck Aggies in the rugged SEC with the currently ranked #1 (LSU), #2 (Alabama), and #3 (Arkansas) teams in the country. Mix in Florida, Tennessee, Auburn, and Mississippi, and you have your work cut out for you. To the alumni, now you can drive to places like Baton Rouge, Birmingham, and Gainesville instead of Austin, Lubbock, Norman, Waco, etc., to watch games. And, while I may be wrong, my suspicions are that recruiting high school stars may be even easier for UT now that the in-state rivalries will no longer exist.

Yes, I am sorry to see this series end – it is the end of an era in college football. Hook ‘em!

Happy Thanksgiving from our family

2011-11-24T19:40:00.000-06:00

This is just an opportunity to extend Happy Thanksgiving wishes to all of our families, and to anyone else who may read these “Ramblings”. We have so much to be thankful for…let’s never forget that.

Where Have The Years Gone?

2011-11-22T15:08:00.000-06:00

It is hard to believe that it has been forty-eight years since President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas.

This was one of those moments when everyone remembers what they were doing at the time of the announcement that, “President John F. Kennedy has died”. I was a senior at Indiana University living in Bloomington and had just finished Friday afternoon classes. The IU-Purdue game, always a highlight of the football season, was scheduled for the following day. (Needless to say, it was cancelled).

He was a real inspiration to our generation – he was young, a true war hero, and he brought a vivacious wife and kids into the White House (when was the last time there had been a child in the White House?)

The assassination marked the loss of innocence for many of my generation. The belief that such things happen only in foreign countries was shattered. Things were never the same after that.

Aurora Borealis from the ISS

2011-11-21T20:05:00.000-06:00

I have always been fascinated by the aurora borealis (Northern Lights); but, have only managed to view them once in my lifetime. It was many years ago, as a teenager, in Indiana at my grandparents’ house during the winter. Living in the south does not allow one the opportunity to see this phenomenon. An excellent overview of the northern lights is discussed here.

The following video is a spectacular series of clips taken from the international space station.

Earth | Time Lapse View from Space, Fly Over | NASA, ISS from Michael König on Vimeo.

Many things are visible as one watches this video – of course, the myriad of colors of the northern lights; lightning flashes in the clouds all over the earth; certain cities are quite apparent (Chicago, by Lake Michigan; Cairo and the lights along the Nile River; for example); an occasional constellation (Ursa Major, the big dipper; Cassiopia) is identifiable.

What is the long red line at the 3:47 mark on the video? I have not been able to identify that region of the earth to even guess at what it might be. (It appears again about the 4:38 mark). Any suggestions?

Thanks, Dad

2011-11-11T13:51:00.000-06:00

On this Veteran’s Day I would like to say, “Thanks, Dad, for what you did for us”! You were indeed a part of America’s Greatest Generation.

Ah, the Humor (?) in Politics

2011-11-07T20:21:00.000-06:00

On this municipal election eve in Houston an entertaining campaign has been run by a candidate for City Council (Eric Dick) who apparently does not get along with the incumbent mayor, Annise Parker.

The humor in all of this is that Mayor Parker is gay. An amusing article regarding this press release can be found here.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

2011-10-31T18:39:00.000-05:00

We hope everyone has a happy and safe Halloween! Unfortunately, Halloween isn’t what it used to be when I was a kid. The “crazies” have ruined, what used to be, a fun “holiday”. We actually had no “trick or treaters” this year; I think that is a first for us here in the Heights.

What a difference a year makes. I thought I’d post a picture of Sarah from Halloween 2010 alongside Halloween 2011.

2010 2011

Last year, it was, “What are you guys doing to me?” This year, it was, “Look at me, I’m a little mouse”.

A Visit to Dewberry Farm

2011-10-29T19:05:00.000-05:00

Dewberry Farm is located west of Katy, Texas, (actually near Brookshire) and is all about making memories and enjoying good clean country fun. I have lived in Houston for many, many years and had never heard of this place. We decided to check it out after a friend of Amanda’s had mentioned it to her. On a pleasant, but windy, autumn day we decided to see what it was all about.

Sarah really enjoyed herself whether it was feeding the goats, watching the ducks swim around, “driving” a big green John Deere tractor, or running through the “punkin” patch.

They close for the season in early November; but, open the “Christmas Forest” in December and become a “choose-and-cut” tree farm.

The Farm provides a fantastic opportunity for Houston urbanites to experience some of the fun associated with being outdoors and on a farm. They have lots of barnyard animals and many, many activities during the summer. We had a great time and shall return.

A Happy Toddler in School?

2011-10-25T17:43:00.000-05:00

Sarah started going twice per week for a half day at the Bertha Alyce Center a few weeks ago. As long as Mommy was around all was well…

But, when Mommy left, things didn’t go too well…a bit of separation anxiety ensued.

“Yes, I will be a big girl and put my hands on the blocks like you say; but, I will NOT be a happy camper doing it!”

Just like her Mommy and her Daddy before her, crying at school has become a family tradition.

Twenty Months Later

2011-10-23T12:39:00.000-05:00

Well, it’s been a while since I added an entry to my blog; for a while FaceBook took over as a means to provide information to family and friends. I’ve basically lost interest in the latter because of privacy concerns. And, I am hoping Windows Live Writer will make entries a bit easier.

The majority of the postings to this blog will likely continue to center around Sarah since there is seldom much of anything of interest in my life except her and her growth and development.

Sarah in the “wilderness” in July

I may post a few items that have occurred in the past couple of years just to “catch up”. We’ll see how that goes. In the meantime, this is a start (again). And, maybe I can even come up with a few “Ramblings”. Stay tuned!

Sarah is MOBILE

2010-02-06T20:32:00.002-06:00

At about seven months of age, Sarah became mobile nearly overnight - from a few lunges on all-fours to very coordinated crawling. So, the house has been "baby-proofed", protective plugs installed in the electrical outlets, "stuff" moved off the lower shelves in every room, etc. I guess getting a leash will be next. The video of Sarah crawling was taken about two weeks ago.

A Visit from Santa

2009-12-22T17:49:00.003-06:00

Sarah's six-month birthday included a visit from Santa. She was a little unsure of how to react to the big guy with the red suit and the long white beard. She tugged a little on the beard and after about thirty seconds decided that these people were way too scary! Thanks EB and Judy for coming by.

Broncos Championship Season

2009-12-05T15:09:00.011-06:00

Previously, I've noted Will's (No. 10, above) football accomplishments in this blog. The Broncos were undefeated this year (6 - 0) and recently won the West Texas Christian Athletic Association Football Championship. The account of their season can be found here on the St. Andrew's website.

Advice from Dad

Future Bronco

Waterboy, for now

Snowy Houston

2009-12-05T12:57:00.005-06:00

It does snow in the Houston area on occasion - yes, thirty-three times since 1895 (according to the local news); but, never this early in the "winter". An inch, or so, accumulated yesterday during the morning and afternoon. However, since the ground was reasonably warm, the accumulation did not last very long. The weather map shows the extent of the coverage along the Gulf Coast.

Our backyard looked very different under a layer of snow.

The following video shows the "snowstorm" at its heaviest...

Geocaching

2009-11-15T20:12:00.003-06:00

I've developed an interest recently in geocaching. It is sort of a high-tech treasure hunt. One utilizes GPS (global positioning system) technology to search for "junk" hidden by other geocachers; Wikipedia also has an excellent description of the technology involved. Geocaching.com describes the activity as "The sport where you are the search engine". There are nearly a million caches hidden all over the world, and several in our neighborhood. So, when we take our walks around the city, we make it a point to do some searching for hidden "junk".

Amanda, Sarah, Maya and I have found numerous caches in recent weeks. I've not done much in the hiding end of the "sport"; but, years ago I did hide (and do maintain) one in the vicinity of the REI on Westheimer.

Sarah GiggleFest

2009-11-15T17:31:00.004-06:00

Sarah observed her five-month birthday today. Yesterday, we put her in an exer-saucer for the first time for a little bit of late-afternoon stimulation. This video indicates that she thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

Jeff's Promotion

2009-11-15T17:09:00.002-06:00

Jeff was recently promoted to Sergeant in the Houston Police Department. I had the honor and privilege of accompanying him on stage and pinning his badge on him during the ceremony. Police Chief Harold L. Hurtt presided over the event.

John Bachar (1957-2009)

2009-10-22T23:06:00.004-05:00

Legendary climbing icon, John Bachar, fell to his death on July 5; the L. A. Times reported this tragedy. Bachar, one of the original Yosemite "Stonemasters" was best known for his free soloing (climbing without a rope) exploits. Details of the accident are sketchy; but, he apparently fell during a climb in the Mammoth Lakes area of California. Several excellent U-Tube videos of Bachar's climbs are offered on the Climbing website. Rock & Ice offered an interesting insight into the philosophy and personality of John Bachar. He was "one of a kind".

A Conversation with Four-Month Old Sarah

2009-10-15T23:02:00.009-05:00

Sarah is four months old today. She had another round of immunizations and tolerated them quite well. Yesterday, in a conversation with Amanda, she expressed some concern over the possibility of some pain associated with the shots. This video is a record of that conversation.

The pediatrician pronounced her "perfect". We do have to work on the enunciation of most of her words, however. MaMa and DaDa can not be far behind...

A Touchdown Pass Reception

2009-10-12T19:00:00.007-05:00

Will Stroud's prowess on the football field was reported a year ago in this blog. He has continued to excel at catching TD passes.

Here he is - wide open - after faking several defensive backs and safeties - hauling in a long bomb. Will turns and heads into the end zone. I wish we could have seen the celebration. Did he throw the ball into the stands? Did he run over to hug his Mom...did he present the ball to Jack or Baby Bear?

We don't know what he did.

But, can he play the cello? Oh, wait, yes he can!

Sarah Update

2009-09-15T20:00:00.002-05:00

Sarah is three months old today and doing well. She is a very "smiley" baby, particularly in the morning (she certainly doesn't get that from me...). So far, she's been an "easy" baby - seldom cries - and sleeps (finally) nearly through the night (Amanda appreciates that). Sarah has been such a joy for us.

Mom (1922 - 2009)

2009-07-02T22:28:00.003-05:00

The angel population was increased by one today. You were a fantastic person to every one whom you came in contact with - and especially to us! You will truly be missed by every one who knew you. We loved you so very much. May you and Dad have a fantastic eternity together.

Baby Sarah Arrived

2009-06-26T21:42:00.004-05:00

Sarah Jordan Cruser arrived into this world on Monday evening, June 15, 2009; she weighed in at 7 lb and 12 oz and was 20.25 inches long. Both Amanda and Sarah came through the "experience" in fine fashion. It took twelve hours from start to finish. It was quite exciting (and interesting) for me since Jeff and Kristin were born so long ago that Dads were not permitted in the Labor/Delivery room. I can only commend the entire staff at Womens Hospital of Texas - so wonderful. And, thanks to Dr. Thompson; your sweat was worth it!

I've often thought about the traumatic experience of being born and how fortunate we are to have no memory of it. Think about it...it's cold (68 degrees in the L & D room); suddenly you are no longer weightless; it is very bright (that "disco ball" that comes out of the ceiling must be a 10,000 watt bulb!); it is necessary to quickly learn to breathe; a total stranger ties/cuts your "lifeline" to your mother; and, you are hungry! But, the good thing is that you are no longer constrained...you are free! Free to kick those legs, exercise those lungs, wave those arms!

Congratulations, Amanda! You WERE great!

Back at It!

2009-06-18T01:14:00.002-05:00

It's been a while since I've posted anything even though things have happened in the last couple of months. We Celtic fans struggled throughout the NBA Playoffs - first of all, a long, hard series with the Chicago Bulls; and, then, losing in seven games to the Orlando Magic. Injuries to Kevin Garnett and Leon Powe just left Boston undermanned. It should be an interesting off-season for the Celtics; GM, Danny Ainge, will have some decisions to make regarding a couple of players (Leon Powe, Glen Davis), as well as exploring trade possibilities.

Baby Sarah

2009-03-30T22:31:00.003-05:00

Amanda had a 27-week ultrasound this morning. Everything is progressing well and normally. Baby Sarah is up to two and a half pounds and about 14 inches long. Today's technology is quite amazing, compared to what it was when Jeff and Kristin were born. Sarah yawned and blinked her eyes several times during the examination. We could see eyebrows, fingers, knees, etc. The doctor commented that she was cute (hard to tell from the sonogram, however) and, based on her movements, contented and well. (The still sonogram is a bit more distorted than the actual live sonograms). We have been busy for the past month, or so, preparing the nursery. Baby Sarah is expected toward the end of June.

Happy Birthday, Emmy

2009-03-20T19:28:00.002-05:00

Wow, Emmy, how is it possible that you are 13 years old. You are growing up in a hurry. We hope you have a very happy birthday. It was nice to visit with you last weekend. Come see us!

Happy Birthday, Ally

2009-03-17T00:02:00.001-05:00

Birthday number 9! Happy Birthday, Ally - hope it is a great one. We enjoyed coming to your party a few days ago.

Skiing in Crested Butte

2009-03-03T19:34:00.007-06:00

I recently had a great ski trip to Crested Butte in Colorado with Rob, Kristin, Will, and Jack. The snow was abundant, with nearly six additional inches falling while we were there - powder, packed powder, and some groomed slopes. Many of the Colorado resort areas are suffering as a result of the dismal economy - and Crested Butte is no exception. There were no lift lines and many of the runs were practically deserted. Rob and I skied, Will and Jack boarded, Kristin did both (not at the same time).

Kristin BoardingSteve
Deserted SlopesJack & WillKristin, Steve, Will

The Day the Music Died - Fifty Years Ago

2009-02-03T22:24:00.022-06:00

I was a Junior at Sandcreek High School in Indiana on February 3, 1959, when we heard that Rock 'n Roll star, Buddy Holly, was killed in a plane crash in a snowy, Iowa cornfield. It was one of those defining times, like JFK's assassination, 9/11, etc., when one always remembers what they were doing when hearing the news. It's hard to believe that it was fifty years ago. I was just beginning to enjoy music (the Beatles didn't come along until a few years later) and Holly's music/lyrics were quite unique at that time. An account of the accident is given here.

Bob Dylan, the Beatles, and the Rolling Stones have indicated that Holly was a major influence in their music. In 1986 Holly was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. J.P.Richardson (the Big Bopper) and Richie Valens also died in the crash.

Don McLean immortalized the day the music died with this classic.

Half-Way Point

2009-01-16T22:24:00.004-06:00

The Boston Celtics reached the half-way point in the current NBA season with a record of 32-9, two games behind their pace during last year's championship run. This season, to date, has produced a couple of high points - a franchise-record, 19-game win streak during November and December, and a 27-2 mark after 29 games, the best start in NBA history for a team with two losses. After a Christmas day loss to the "hated" Los Angeles Lakers, which ended the nineteen-game winning streak, Boston lost six of their next eight games. Hopefully, that will simply be a small bump in the road to another championship in June.

The "Big 3" have performed well again so far; their "numbers" are down only slightly this year. The bench has not played as well as expected; they have not been able to maintain leads consistently when the starters are resting. James Posey is definitely missed, the only thing consistent about Tony Allen has been his inconsistency. Kendrick Perkins and Tony Allen have missed a few games; but, injuries have not played much of a role so far. I expect the GM, Danny Ainge, to make a move, or two, prior to the trading deadline in February to obtain some length and added firepower to come off the bench. Otherwise, it will be tough to get past Orlando, Cleveland, or Los Angeles at playoff time.

Happy Birthday, Jack

2009-01-03T00:33:00.004-06:00

Happy Birthday, Jack! In honor of his eighth birthday, I wanted to post a video of his "10-second pin". Jack (in red) has become quite the wrestler. Keep it up, Jack! And, have a wonderful birthday - wish we could celebrate it with you.

Happy Holidays

2008-12-24T23:57:00.002-06:00

We want to wish all of our family and friends a most happy holiday season. May you all enjoy health and happiness throughout 2009.

Celtics Roll

2008-12-11T23:40:00.002-06:00

The Boston Celtics, riding a thirteen-game winning streak, broke their fabled franchise record for the best start to a season; they have won twenty-one of their first twenty-three games. Even the great teams made up of Russell, Cousy, Heinsohn, Havlicek, Cowens, Bird, McHale never had such an impressive beginning to a season.

It's Snowing in Houston

2008-12-10T21:12:00.010-06:00

It began spitting a few snow flurries in Houston in mid-afternoon. It's been nearly four years since Houston has seen any snow (Christmas Eve in 2004 we had about an inch which accumulated). Today the snow continued throughout the evening and actually accumulated on the vehicles and the back deck.

Snow on the car

Maya observing the snowfall on the deck

It's been an exciting year of weather in Houston - Hurricane Ike in September and snow in December.

Happy Thanksgiving

2008-11-27T00:53:00.002-06:00

The Crusers want to wish each and every one of our family and friends a Happy Thanksgiving.

Celtics Update

2008-11-22T23:06:00.006-06:00

Fourteen games into the NBA season and the Celtics have the same record, 12 - 2, as they had last season. This is despite the fact that offensively they have not really had a great game yet - a couple of good games, yes; but, no games where everything went well. They are winning games with their defense. And, they really should have won one of the games that was lost. Not unexpectedly, KG (Kevin Garnett) remains the heart and soul of the team. His intensity is amazing! 2008 Finals MVP, Paul Pierce continues to be the scoring leader with KG and Ray Allen not far behind. Tony Allen and Leon Powe have played well off the bench. Point guard, Rajon Rondo, remains somewhat inconsistent from game to game. If Boston can get their offense in gear, look out NBA!

Garnett posting up former Celtic, Al Jefferson

Pierce driving to the basket

Willie Nelson Concert

2008-11-02T21:48:00.009-06:00

Amanda and I attended a Willie Nelson concert last weekend at the House of Blues. It was pretty good...Willie was Willie. He sang many of his most popular and well-loved songs. He still has a lot of energy for a 75 year old man. Having attended several of his New Year's Eve concerts at the old Summit many years ago (perhaps as many as 30 years ago!), it was nice to see that he was still as engaging and entertaining as he was years ago.

Happy Halloween

2008-10-28T23:09:00.004-05:00

We hope you have a Happy Halloween (but, not a scary one). It's been a long time since I carved a pumpkin. But, the jack-o-lantern turned out quite nicely and looked good sitting on the front porch.

Banner No. 17 Raised - Game 1

2008-10-28T22:53:00.004-05:00

The Boston Celtics raised Banner No. 17 to the rafters of the TDBanknorth Garden and then proceeded to put win No. 1 in the books as they defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers, 90 - 85. Paul Pierce led Boston with 27 points and Leon Powe added 13 off the bench. LeBron James led Cleveland with 22 points.

Let the Season Begin

2008-10-28T18:01:00.003-05:00

The Boston Celtics begin their quest this evening to repeat as NBA Champions. After the banner raising and the ring presentation, the C's will battle the Cleveland Cavaliers. Boston is led by their "Big 3" (Pierce, Garnett, and Allen) once again. They are basically the same team this year as last - the lone significant departure was James Posey, who opted to play in New Orleans. Preseason predictions seem to point at a Boston - Los Angeles rematch for the Championship next June. An excellent overview of this year's team can be found here.

Texas Renaissance Festival

2008-10-28T13:55:00.011-05:00

We attended the Renaissance Festival last weekend; it was the first time I had made the trek to the Festival, located near Magnolia, Texas. There was quite a cast of characters in attendance, including a centaur, Mr. Fox, Merlin, and the Executioner.

There were the usual jousting events (won, of course, by the crowd favorite).

The Joust

There were additional characters in attendance - just not in costume.

Amanda and her Mom

We had a great time; the weather was fantastic, and there was a lot of food of which to be partaken. Check out the above link for an interesting video of the Renaissance festivities.

Strouds - Belize Trip

2008-10-26T22:39:00.019-05:00

Rob, Kristin, Will and Jack recently made a trip to Belize to deliver fifty boxes of library books to a small school (Sunday Wood School) in the southern part of the country. These books resulted from a book drive sponsored by Will and Jack's school (St. Andrews Episcopal) in Amarillo.

Kristin reported that they flew to the remote area and drove for hours on a dirt road. The road was so bad that four lug nuts came off the truck's wheels. The townspeole were very excited to have the books (they just recently got electricity through solar panels donated by a political party who was up for re-election).

The one-room school house educated all ages of children.

A typical Belizean hut. Jack started writing a pen pal, Darrell, who lives in Valley of Peace, Belize, with his seven brothers and sisters in a one-room, Maya-style thatched hut. When they met Darrell, Jack was amazed that so many people lived in such a small house and that they shared their space with roosters, turkeys, and chickens. Jack thought it was cool that they all slept in hammocks.

Jack and the starfish

Jeff's Pictures

2008-10-24T20:09:00.003-05:00

Jeff took quite a large number of excellent pictures of the Houston Police Memorial and Outside Agencies after Hurricane Ike. They can be viewed here on Jeff's website. I scrutinized each picture and could not find Jeff in any of them. I thought he might have "pushed" the shutter and then run around to be in the picture. Perhaps he will let me know which picture he might be in. We certainly appreciated the assistance from other police departments around Texas during this time. Check out some of the other pictures on Jeff's website; he has some pretty remarkable photographs there.

National Debt!

2008-10-15T18:48:00.006-05:00

It was recently mentioned that our "national debt clock" had to be modified in order to register the $10,000,000,000,000 mark. Would that lead one to believe that the "developer/designer" of the clock never thought that the debt would ever reach that amount? Perhaps...

I began to wonder how we (or future generations) could ever possibly repay that debt...what would we use as "currency"...oil or other natural resources, manufactured goods, technology - no, and certainly not dollars. What about food? Probably not...we are going to need all that we can produce. And, I'm not sure that we don't already import more food than we produce. Certainly, I do not have an answer to this important question - I would love to hear how our governmental leaders would answer it! To see what your share of the national debt is, go here. Check back an hour, or so, later to see how much more your share has increased.

Texas No. 1 - Hook 'em Horns!

2008-10-12T22:35:00.003-05:00

In what may have been the most exciting collegiate football game, so far, this season the UT Longhorns outlasted top-ranked Oklahoma, 45 - 35. The Horns vaulted from No. 5 in the polls all the way to No. 1. They will have to play excellent ball to remain there as their next three opponents are Missouri, Oklahoma State, and Texas Tech (in Lubbock).

Future Aggie?

2008-10-09T20:40:00.002-05:00

Is there a future Aggie footballer in the family? I guess it is not worth considering that there might be a Longhorn baller in the family - so, I won't ask that question! Will plays wide receiver for the Lil' Rebels in Amarillo and is quite adept at advancing the ball after the catch. Look for Will to carry on the Aggie tradition in the Stroud household in 2016 - however, he may have to pack on a few pounds before he can crack that Texas A & M lineup.

Barrett's First Birthday Party

2008-10-02T18:09:00.005-05:00

Barrett Stroud (aka Bear or Baby Bear) celebrated his first birthday on September 7 in Amarillo. Everyone enjoyed the Elmo (Sesame Street) cake...especially Bear (who said, "Thank Heaven for CAKE"). Will and Jack participated in the cake eating although not with the vigor that Bear showed!

Can They Repeat?

2008-09-24T14:43:00.002-05:00

Two weeks from tonight (on October 8) the Boston Celtics will play their first preseason game (against Philadelphia). The Celtics have not won back-to-back championships since the 1968-69 season; it is hard to believe that it has been forty years since the most successful franchise in NBA history has repeated.

The 2008-09 team will be virtually the same one that won last year. James Posey will be hard to replace and the "Big 3" will be a year older; but, the younger players will have another year of experience. And, perhaps, rookies, J. R. Giddens and Bill Walker, can provide a spark off the bench. If Darius Miles is healthy and can return to past levels of performance, we may forget James Posey.

Do You Have Any Battery-Powered Fans?

2008-09-22T22:29:00.005-05:00

This is the number one question for the past several days at REI where the temperatures have begun to increase again after Hurricane Ike blasted through about ten days ago. About one-third of Houstonians still have no electricity and, thus, no air conditioning. Fans, lanterns, fuel, and batteries have become very popular and very scarce throughout the city in recent days. We have heard reports that some areas will not have power for at least two more weeks.

Returning to Normalcy

2008-09-17T21:38:00.016-05:00

We spent Saturday and Sunday cleaning up the yard of tree debris and other trash; there was absolutely nothing else to do since the city was essentially shut down and we had no electricity. Approximately 95% of the nation's fourth largest city had no power. The weather was hot (90+ degrees) and humid...and, of course, there was no air conditioning. Radio reports had potential power outages lasting as long as six weeks.

We took walks through the neighborhood by day and played cards by kerosene lamp in the evenings. Waiting, hoping, waiting, hoping for the power to return. In the meantime, refrigerator/freezer contents were beginning to "lose their cool".

Monday morning a cool front came through and dropped the temperatures and the humidity to tolerable levels. We could open the windows and get some pleasant breezes through the house. However, still no electricity on Monday - the third day with no power. Fortunately, the water and natural gas in our area were uninterrupted...we could take showers and cook.

Tuesday was much the same as Monday...except about 9:30 in the evening, the electricity came back on. Oh, such joy...

Wednesday was spent beginning to restock the refrigerator/freezer since all of the food had to be thrown away because of the lack of cooling. Over half of the city is still without power. The grocery stores that have power do not have a lot of food. Gasoline stations that have power are beginning to run low of fuel and have long lines, reminiscent of the oil embargo in the 70s.

But, things are slowly returning to normal. It's been an exciting week.

Ike's Aftermath

2008-09-17T21:38:00.013-05:00

"Night of Fury, Days of Misery" screamed the headline in the Houston Chronicle on Sunday morning. And, it was quite true.

We followed Hurricane Ike on TV and the internet as it approached the Galveston coast Friday evening and into early Saturday morning. Around 1:00 AM (Saturday) the wind gusts really picked up and the rain intensified. It evoked past images of fierce tropical storms hitting Caribbean Islands - rain and wind blowing trees sideways. The roar of the wind was something I had never experienced (even during mountain windstorms). About 2:00, my ISP lost power (at least, I presumed that was the reason I lost internet access), and I began watching the TV reports. An hour later, as the eyewall approached downtown Houston, our power went out. I decided to go to bed. I wasn't certain whether I could sleep or not.

There was much noise - things flying about, hitting the house, windblown rain splashing all around, and the never-ending roar of the wind.

I think I dozed off around 4:30 and awakened about four hours later. We got up to assess the damage; and fortunately, aside from a lot of tree debris in the front yard, there was not much.

We took a walk around the neighborhood. It seemed that most of the damage was the result of fallen tree limbs...on vehicles, houses. And, the amount of tree debris was incredible. There were huge oak and pecan trees totally uprooted.

The Houston Chronicle has posted a large collection of pictures of the approach of Ike, the storm itself, and the aftermath. In addition, Jeff has posted a number of excellent pictures he has taken over the last few days on his Flickr page.

Ike Approaches Even Closer!

2008-09-12T21:57:00.005-05:00

At 10:00 PM we continue to wait for Ike to wreak its havoc on Houston. We've had no rain yet and only an occasional gust of wind. There are a few twigs in the front yard that have been blown from the pecan tree. Landfall on Galveston Island is still about three or four hours away. The worst of the storm is predicted to occur during the midnight to noon hours.

Maya seems to enjoy standing on the front porch and watching the wind blow through the trees.

Bracing for Ike

2008-09-12T12:35:00.005-05:00

Well, it doesn't look like we can avoid the full force of Hurricane Ike at this late date. There would not appear to be much of a chance that it will change direction. We are anticipating that winds will pick up significantly around 3:00 this afternoon; by nightfall they should be close to 100 miles per hour. The eye is expected to pass through Houston shortly after midnight. (Why do disasters always seem to happen under the veil of darkness?). While 100+ mph winds are not to be scoffed at, because of the immense size of the storm, flooding (and storm surge) may cause even more damage. Stay tuned...

Here Comes Ike!

2008-09-11T21:31:00.003-05:00

Hurricane Ike moved to within about 400 miles of the Texas coast (Galveston area) during the day. It turned slightly northward and now is predicted to make landfall on Galveston Island. This will also bring it directly through the city of Houston. It is still a Category 2 storm; but, expected to intensify prior to making landfall. Being more than 500 miles across means a lot of rainfall for the area. Locally, winds are expected to pick up around sunrise in the morning (Friday), and increase throughout the day. Forecasts are for Ike to make landfall very early Saturday morning. A couple of excellent hurricane monitoring and tracking websites can be found here and here. Stay tuned...

Ike Concerns

2008-09-10T16:49:00.004-05:00

Hurricane Ike is headed for the Texas coast. That's a relief for those in Louisiana and Florida; but, a real concern for those of us living in the Houston area. Right now, the models indicate Ike will make landfall at Matagorda Island about 70 miles southwest of Houston early Saturday morning. There is some concern that the eye could turn a bit more northward which would bring it much closer to Houston. We can use some rain, don't need any wind, and hope there will be no flooding. Stay tuned...

Banner No. 17

2008-09-03T13:48:00.004-05:00

So, with the addition of Allen and Garnett, there were a lot of hopes riding on the 2007-08 NBA season. Could the new "Big 3" rival the old "Big 3" (Parish, Bird, and McHale)?

Yes, they could! The 07-08 Celts led from the opening bell and will be hanging Banner No. 17 from the rafters on opening night, October 28.

We watched nearly all of the regular season (and playoff) games during the past year; the Celtics provided us with a lot of enjoyment, thrills, and entertainment. As Amanda says, "It is fun to win". (She is a converted Celtics fan...once upon a time she followed the Rockets).

So, watching all of these basketball games made it difficult to do much blogging (that's my excuse).

Back!

2008-09-03T13:37:00.003-05:00

More than one year later, I'm going to try to "pick up" the habit of blogging again. A year should be enough of a vacation.

A lot (of blogging note) has happened in the past year. After a dismal 2006-07 NBA season (which was where I left off) and an unsuccessful lottery, the Celtics added Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett, and with Paul Pierce came up with a new "Big 3".

Celtic Season Recap...and Lottery

2007-05-22T21:52:00.000-05:00

It's been a tough season for us die-hard Boston Celtic fans. We mourned the loss of patriarch, Red Auerbach, just prior to the beginning of the season; and, later, the premature passing of former star, Dennis Johnson. We suffered through a season filled with injuries to nearly every player on the roster. And, we wound up with a record of 24 - 58, the second worst record in the NBA. Looking back, the bright spots were the play of Al Jefferson and Rajon Rondo. The only other bright spot, if there was one as the season wore on, was the possibility of winning the draft lottery and selecting Greg Oden or Kevin Durant, either of whom might return the storied franchise to its previous days of glory. Alas, the bad luck continued tonight as the Celtics wound up with the fifth selection in the draft, which was the worst pick they could get considering their season finish. It remains to be seen at this time whether they will trade this pick for a proven veteran to go with their very youthful team, or whether they will continue their "youth movement" and be mired in mediocrity for the foreseeable future.

Maya and Chaco

2007-04-07T12:19:00.000-05:00

We've had our Lab puppy, Maya, for a year now...just like having a toddler. She is a fun bundle of energy. Maya's full-grown now at 60 pounds; but, still has a lot of "puppy" in her. We take her to "doggie day care" one or two days a week where she can run and frolic with other dogs - "a tired puppy is a good puppy" is a lesson we have learned in the past few months.

Chaco, the cat, has been a family member for nearly six years. As is typically feline, he views us merely as staff, rather than royalty (as Maya does). The animals tolerate each other; but, are not best friends.

Remembering DJ

2007-02-24T17:29:00.000-06:00

The Celtic family lost another legendary member on Thursday. Dennis Johnson, the point guard on the Celtics during their championship years in the 80's, passed away at the very young age of 52. DJ was a clutch performer in big games and one of the premier defensive players of his era. An excellent article on "Number 3" appears here.

Memorial To Casey

2007-02-23T19:37:00.000-06:00

Kitty's sweet puppy, Casey, passed on last week doing what she loved best - chasing birds. Those of us who knew and loved Casey will miss her tremendously. RIP, CaseyGirl.

Maddeningly Injured

2007-02-02T15:21:00.000-06:00

We've reached the halfway point in the current NBA season. Because of injuries to many of their key players the Celtics are in the battle for a high spot in the Draft Lottery. Leading scorer, Paul Pierce, has been out since mid-December with a foot injury. Another high-scoring veteran, Wally Szczerbiak has missed a number of games because of sprained ankles. Big men, Al Jefferson and Kendrick Perkins, have spent some time on the injured list. Tony Allen, who had begun to show the abilities he displayed as a rookie a couple of years ago, suffered a season-ending knee injury. Delonte West has had some recurring back problems. Ryan Gomes has been consistently good all season; Sebastian Telfair has been consistently disappointing. Gerald Green has shown flashes of brilliance; Rajon Rondo is, well, a raw rookie.

It looks like it will be a battle between the Celtics and the Memphis Grizzlies for the most chances in the upcoming draft lottery. The prize should be either Kevin Durant or Greg Oden, either of whom will almost instantly turn any team into a contender.

Treasure Hunt

2007-02-02T14:40:00.000-06:00

Jeff recently began a series of treasure hunts for Ally and Emmy as a reward for making all "A's" on their report cards. The first took place at Allen's Landing and the second at the San Jacinto Monument and the Battleship Texas. I participated in the third hunt which was at Brazos Bend State Park over the school holidays. We utilized GPS technology to locate the clues scattered around the park by "pirates". Once all of the clues were gathered, they had to be deciphered. The deciphering then offered a clue to where the next hunt would take place.

The weather was a bit blustery and overcast so we couldn't visit the George Observatory; but we saw one 'gator in the water and were treated to a spectacular sunset.

Holiday Ski Trip

2007-01-11T21:21:00.000-06:00

Amanda and I recently returned from a holiday ski trip to Crested Butte with my daughter and her family. We had a great time. It was Amanda's first time on skis; she took lessons and did well (except for the time she fell while getting off the lift). The weather was excellent - sunny, cold, with very little wind. We stayed at the Grand Lodge, a very comfortable (despite the smoke alarm going off twice during our stay) ski-in, ski-out resort.

Amanda skiing Steve skiing

the Stroud family

Happy Holidays from the Crusers

2007-01-01T20:23:00.000-06:00

Maya says, "Happy Holidays from the Crusers and may the God of your choice bless you during the upcoming year".

Maddeningly Inconsistent

2006-12-16T11:59:00.000-06:00

The NBA season is one-quarter over for most of the teams. At present, and on the heels of a four-game winning streak, the Celtics are tied for first place in the woeful Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Their record stands at 9 - 13. Their season has been marked by inconsistent play on the part of nearly every one and a few injuries to key personnel. They have lost big leads in games and have come back from big deficits in others. It has been a "roller-coaster ride" so far - up and down. Paul Pierce and Wally Szczerbiak (when healthy) have played their usual steady game. Ryan Gomes has provided a lot of stability. During the current winning streak, Al Jefferson and Tony Allen have played very well; hopefully, they can continue to provide some consistency in both the offense and defense. Delonte West and Sebastian Telfair have been up and down. Kendrick Perkins has labored with foot problems keeping him from anchoring the middle as he had been expected to do. Gerald Green has provided a few Sports Center highlights; but, hasn't had a lot of minutes. Rajon Rondo, who looked so good in pre-season, has only shown occasional flashes of the speed and quickness which he possesses. Boston has a lot of road games coming up toward the end of the month; these will go a long way in determining whether the entire season will be one of maddening inconsistency, or will be a step in hanging Banner No. 17 in the Garden.

Happy Birthday, Larry

2006-12-07T23:13:00.000-06:00

Happy 50th Birthday, Larry Bird - the greatest Celtic of them all.

A Beautiful Wedding

2006-11-14T18:32:00.000-06:00

Amanda and I attended the very spectacular wedding of a relative over the weekend at The Houstonian Club. After the beautiful ceremony, partially conducted by the bride's grandfather, there was a lot of serious partying. Some of the highlights included an ice sculpture bar, a vocal(?) rendition of the Leeann Womack song, "Dance", by the bride's father, and lots of food and drink.

I hadn't been in a tux since my daughter's wedding in Galveston over ten years ago.

Wedding Cake & Ice Bar

A Sad Week

2006-10-28T23:33:00.000-05:00

This was a sad week as two of my idols passed away. On Monday, Todd Skinner, a world-renowned rock climber, fell to his death in Yosemite National Park. Apparently, the belay loop broke on his climbing harness as he was descending a fixed rope on Leaning Tower. Skinner made numerous free-climbing first ascents around the world. The San Francisco Chronicle carried the story here.

On Saturday, Arnold "Red" Auerbach, Boston Celtic coaching legend, passed away at age 89. The Boston Globe, in an excellent article, chronicled the life and times of the greatest coach in the history of the NBA here.

Less Optimism

2006-10-25T21:55:00.000-05:00

Well, the preseason games are over for the Boston Celtics; they finished with a record of three wins and five losses. All but one of the games were close and entertaining; however, most of the losses should have been victories. Here are a few observations on the preseason - Rajon Rondo was the surprise of the preseason; Sebastian Telfair is a better shooter than I thought he was; Tony Allen was a major disappointment (much of his athleticism seems to have vanished); Al Jefferson began to show some improvement as the preseason progressed, while Kendrick Perkins seemed lost (and very foul-prone). The veterans, Paul Pierce and Wally Szczerbiak, played their usual steady game. Boston is MUCH more potent when they run; their half-court offense is terrible. Delonte West, Ryan Gomes, and Gerald Green performed well. My prediction for the season is that Boston will finish with a record of about .500, make the playoffs; but, likely will be ousted in the first round. I'm a little less optimistic than I was in my previous blog. Stay tuned and we'll see how it all plays out.

The Boston Celtics and another NBA Season

2006-10-12T20:06:00.000-05:00

Well, another NBA season is about to begin. I've been an avid Boston Celtics fan since the Russell-Cousy-Heinsohn days in the mid-50's. There were a lot of championships throughout the 60's, 70's, and 80's; but, twenty years have passed since the Celtics led by the Big 3, Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, and Robert Parish, last won an NBA Championship in 1986. It seems each season brings renewed optimism that this could be the year that "Banner No. 17" will be raised to the rafters of the "Garden" (or whatever the arena is called this year). And, I guess this year is no different. The C's are still a very young and inexperienced team; but, seem to have a lot of talent (or is this just blind optimism, again). Two games into the preseason (one a victory over Cleveland, and one an OT loss to Toronto) and a few observations can be noted: one is the quickness of rookie Rajon Rondo, two is the continued brilliance of Paul Pierce, three is the seemingly lack of growth of the two "bigs", Al Jefferson and Kendrick Perkins. The latter two have to progress if Boston is to even make the playoffs this year. Gerald Green, last year's No. 1 pick, has to be given minutes; he just looks too good when on the floor to spend time on the pine! Delonte West has to stay healthy and Wally Szczerbiak also has to complement Pierce's scoring. Others who could be key for this year include Ryan Gomes, Tony Allen, and the newly acquired, Sebastian Telfair. This is my analysis after watching the first two preseason games; we'll see how it all plays out.

North Carolina Trip

2006-10-02T19:58:00.000-05:00

It's taken me a couple of weeks to come up with something to "ramble" about. However, last week I spent several days in Greensboro, North Carolina, conducting a couple of training sessions involving new employees for a store we will be opening there later this month. Product training covered the areas of "Travel" and "Climbing". It was a lot of fun as there were about a dozen enthusiastic "learners" in the group.

It had been many years since I had visited that part of the country. My brother and I did some backpacking in the Linville Gorge area years ago. This year, I had hoped to see some autumn colors; but, I was a few weeks early.

Getting Started

2006-09-17T23:38:00.000-05:00

It seems that everyone is "blogging" these days; so, I shall try my hand at it. We all think our lives are SO interesting that the whole world wants to know what we are doing...when, in reality, practically no one cares what we are doing.